Box Score DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's volleyball team fell in three sets to the College of Saint Benedict in a non-conference matchup on Tuesday night at Reif Gymnasium.

The teams were neck-and-neck in the first set until the Blazers pulled away late by going on a 9-4 run to take the opening set 25-19.

After being down 8-2 in the beginning of the second set, CSS went on a 9-2 run to come within two points.  However, when the Saints got within one at 18-17, the Blazers scored four straight points to regain an edge and ultimately take the set 25-18.

Both teams would battle for the lead in the third set with 10 ties and six lead changes in the set. With the Saints up 17-16, the Blazers went on a 7-1 run and closed out the Saints in three 25-19.

Anna Zyvoloski (Sauk Rapids, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS (Minn.-Duluth)) led the Saints with 17 kills, while Erika Birkeland (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) added 32 assists.  Danielle Benusa (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee HS) led the CSS with 11 digs, with Jenny Kienzle (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) and Kirsten Eaton (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata HS) chipping in 10 digs each. Lexi Alm led the Blazers with 14 kills.

The Saints are now 13-10 overall, while St. Ben's improves to 22-4 in the season. The Blazers are just outside the AVCA Division III top 25 poll that was released today.

The Saints return to conference play and will travel to Minneapolis on Friday to face North Central University at 7 p.m. and then will play Northwestern College Saturday at 2 p.m.